The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have completed the deposit of the Final Trusted Build Source Codes for the upcoming national and local elections scheduled on May 12, 2025, marking a crucial step in securing the automated election process. The development supports Comelec’s ongoing efforts to modernize and secure the Philippine electoral system, including recent initiatives to implement digital voter identification for overseas Filipino voters.
The source code deposit ceremony took place on March 24, 2025, at the BSP Head Office in Manila, led by Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and BSP Officer-in-Charge Elmore O. Capule. Also present were Comelec Commissioners Rey E. Bulay and Nelson J. Celis, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, along with election watchdog representatives and media observers.
The deposited source codes encompass critical components of the automated election system, including the Automated Counting Machine (ACM), Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS), Election Management System (EMS), Secure Electronic Transmission System (SETS), and Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS). These codes have undergone both international certification and local review processes to ensure their integrity and security.
Prior to the deposit, Comelec and BSP executed an escrow agreement that formally establishes the central bank as the custodian of the election source codes. The BSP has maintained this role since 2010, serving as the repository for source codes from previous national and local elections, providing a consistent and secure framework for protecting these critical electoral assets.
“The level of security at the BSP is different,” said Comelec Chairman Garcia. “This guarantees the public that our source codes are safeguarded. The envelope containing them is still sealed, bearing the signature of our international certifier.”
“By taking custody of the source code in compliance with Republic Act No. 9369, the BSP reaffirms not only its legal obligation but also its steadfast commitment to supporting clean and transparent elections,” said BSP Deputy Governor Romulo-Puyat.
The BSP has also implemented additional measures to prevent vote-buying and electoral irregularities. Financial institutions have been instructed to enhance their surveillance and monitoring systems, particularly regarding account registrations and money transfers in areas where vote-buying has been prevalent. Banks are required to strengthen their fraud detection systems to identify suspicious activities such as unusual spikes in account openings, large cash transactions, and frequent digital wallet transfers, reflecting growing concerns about digital financial security in electoral processes.
Sources: Backend News, Business Mirror, PIA, BusinessWorld, GMA Network
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